New $500 record for lamb prices set in Ballarat

On Tuesday, a new national record was set for lamb sales. 

❓What happened: Tourello farmer Darren Dean sold 70 Poll Dorset-cross heavy lambs, each weighing between 86 and 103 kilograms, for $500 per head at the Ballarat sheep markets. It comes only a fortnight after the record was set in New South Wales. 

Dean, a third generation farmer, and his family have a string of success behind them. Last year, they were the first to surpass the $400 mark in the market.

🗣️: “It was bloody good,” Dean told the Brolga, which is an efficient summary of the achievement, “After all the hard work you put in, it’s nice to get a reward.”

🐑 What next: Dean said the sheep market is strong right now, with higher prices expected as the year goes on. 

• “It’s just a numbers thing. The percentages last season were right back due to the dry conditions, so there’s a lot more now.”